Campanha pelo Uso Racional de Medicamentos - 2016: caracterização da população atendida.

Abstract

The irrational use of medicines brings several consequences and of various orders directly to the client and/or to the health services. The most effective way of improve the use of medicines in basic care is through educational actions and also providing adequate access to appropriate drugs. To inform and make society aware of the risks of self-medication and its implications is essential to promote the rational use of medicines. This study was descriptive and transversal, developed during the Rational Use of Medicines campaign and aimed to describe the characteristics of the population assisted during the extension action which took place in the municipality of Cuité – PB. Between 03 and 05 of May, 2016, 173 people were interviewed. The average age was 52 years old with predominance of the age group ≥ 60 years old and most of the interviewed people was female (63,01%). The most prevalent blood pressure was characterized as great (43,35%) and the glycaemia was normal (36,42%). Among the interviewed, 52,6% had the habit of doing exercise, 83,24% did not consume alcoholic drinks and 90,75% did not smoke. 17 types of medicinal plants were used by 50,29% of the interviewed, and the most prevalent were boldo and lemon balm (19,29%). From the interviewed, 54,34% informed that they had some type of disease, with predominance of systemic arterial hypertension (39,34%). The most used therapeutic classes were the anti-inflammatories and anti-rheumatics (8,76%) and captopril was the most used drug (5,64%). The majority (48,70%) said that they received professional orientation about the use of the drugs and the doctor was the main counselor (71,19%). Self-medication was related by 19 people. The use of medicines and medicinal plants is highly frequent among the population studied, especially through self-medication. Educational actions are necessary in order to create some kind of awareness in the population regarding the risks brought by self- medication, this way contributing to minimize this habit.